Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., points to supporters with his wife, Teresa Heinz Kerry, left, while his daughter, Vanessa, hugs his stepson, Christopher, in Washington, D.C. during his ... more

Photo: ELISE AMENDOLA

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Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., watches television with his wife Teresa at his side and surrounded by staff members as Sen. John Edwards, D-N.C., withdraws from the presidential race prior to a Super Tuesday Primary night party in Washington, DC March 2, 2004. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa) Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., his wife, Teresa, (right) and staff members watch John Edwards on television before a party in Washington, D.C. less

Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., watches television with his wife Teresa at his side and surrounded by staff members as Sen. John Edwards, D-N.C., withdraws from the presidential race ... more

Photo: CHARLES KRUPA

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THE RACE IS ON / John Kerry clinches Democratic nomination just 6 weeks after surprise win in Iowa / ANALYSIS: It's time for Kerry to face the real competition -- President Bush

Week after week, the Globetrotters defeated the Washington Generals in masterful fashion, always leaving fans wondering how they might fare against a more accomplished opponent.

The same question must now be asked of Kerry after a day of decisive triumphs: Is he good enough to win against the real competition in November?

No one can question the mastery of Kerry's roll through the front-loaded Democratic primary calendar. Not since Jimmy Carter walked to the nomination more than a quarter century ago has any candidate so dominated a wide open field and emerged as the nominee so unscathed. Yet there are few signs that Kerry's triumph is based on any appreciation of his own political genius, bold policy initiatives or personal charm, but rather on the widely held view by Democrats that he is most capable of beating President Bush.

The real test for Kerry begins this week, as the Bush-Cheney campaign, the richest political team in American history, begins a 17-state advertising blitz, and members of the Bush team rush to define Kerry as a Massachusetts liberal who cannot be trusted with the national defense. Bush himself arrives in California this evening to add millions to his war chest and take aim at his Democratic rival.

Elite runners start the first wave of Bay to Breakers 2018San Francisco Chronicle

Coyote trots around Golden Gate parkTed Andersen, SFGATE

"It's basically been a monologue, and the Democrats have made all the noise. That's not going to last," said Loyola Marymount Professor Michael Genovese, co-author of "Polls and Politics: The Dilemmas of Democracy."

The broad parameters of the eight-month campaign are now in sharper focus. Kerry can be expected to focus on job losses, rising health care costs and the turmoil in Iraq to portray the president as out of step with mainstream America. Bush will take credit for protecting the nation against further terrorist attacks and for a brightening economy, as his surrogates try to define Kerry as inconsistent and weak on national defense.

Kerry emerged as the Democratic nominee in far stronger position than anyone envisioned when the voting began in Iowa seven weeks ago, which probably explains the early start of the president's television campaign. Democrats mostly avoided the sort of ideological and personal clashes that can harm the nominee in the fall. And Kerry has opted out of the public financing system, allowing him to spend any money he can raise between now and the convention.

"Primary seasons can be very cutthroat," Genovese said. "Normally you'd expect Democratic candidates to be pulled to the left in the primary, and then move to the center in the general election. But after (Howard) Dean's disappearance, Democrats did not have to move further to the left."

Instead, the Democratic field that began as eight in Iowa spent most of their time beating up on Bush as the president's approval ratings steadily dropped to about where they were before the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. Today, most polls show Kerry ahead of Bush in a hypothetical matchup by as much as 10 points.

"Bush took a pounding the last six to eight weeks. Together they did a pretty good job of beating up Bush," said Al From, president of the Democratic Leadership Council, who had been critical of Dean's efforts to tug the party to the left.

"Both Kerry and Edwards had generally the same sort of message of middle- class tax cuts and hammering on the jobs ... and that is where Bush is vulnerable," From said.

Part of Kerry's success sprang from his ability to please conservative Democratic groups such as From's while at the same time drawing support from liberal constituencies based in part on a voting record that earned him the National Journal's rank as the Senate's No. 1 liberal last week.

Democratic party officials say the high turnout in the primaries, from New Hampshire to Arizona, will help in what they anticipate will be a number of close battleground contests. Republicans see the Democratic enthusiasm driven by candidates who display a contempt for Bush, something that may play well among partisan primary voters but is unlikely to work in November.

"The deciding factor for many of these (primary) contests as you look at the exit surveys is the extent to which electability still is a factor," said Republican Party Chair Ed Gillespie. "What does that tell you? They voted for John Kerry because maybe he can beat (Bush), as opposed to, maybe he can create jobs, or maybe he can make health are more affordable ... or maybe he can make energy more reliable, or maybe he can win the war against terrorists. "

"I'm not sure at the end of the day, that's an appealing approach to politics," Gillespie said.

As voters were casting ballots Tuesday, Vice President Dick Cheney sat down for interviews with three national cable television networks and accused Kerry of waffling on issues, trying to raise taxes and support cuts in defense.

"He clearly has, over the years, adopted a series of positions that indicate a desire to cut the defense budget, to cut the intelligence budget, to eliminate many major weapons programs, to vote against, for example, the first Gulf War resolution back in 1991, and his inconsistency with respect to Iraq," Cheney told Britt Hume of the Fox News Channel.

Kerry has steadily defended the fire in his belly to fight back.

"We have no illusions about the Republican attack machine and about what they've done in the past, and about what they may do in the future," Kerry told supporters at a victory party in Washington. "But I know we are equal to the task. I am a fighter."

In a year when electability is the Democrats' top issue, Kerry has proved himself a winner. The question now is how he fares against the president.